When Mia A. finishes her assigned tasks, she doesn’t quietly wait for more work. She reaches out to her manager and asks for more work. Sometimes that means taking on collection calls. Other times, it’s jumping into projects across different states. This proactive spirit, always looking for ways to help, earned Mia the HireSmart Virtual Employees’ 2025 Relationships Core Value Award.  

But for Mia, it’s never been about recognition. It’s about building the kind of trust where a client says they want to “adopt her as my sister.” 

Mia’s client nominated her for the award, noting she “is adaptable, reliable, punctual, and highly productive.” 

“And a pleasure to work with!” the client said. “Mia is always ready and willing to help; she takes action before she is asked to do something and has the client experience at top of mind.” 

The award caught Mia by surprise at HireSmart’s annual Christmas party. 

“I was thinking to myself, I’ll just be a spectator. I’m gonna’ enjoy the party,” she said. “And then my name was called, and yeah, I was actually really nervous, and I didn’t know what to say.” 

For Mia, who’s approaching her second anniversary with HireSmart in March, the recognition meant more than a moment in the spotlight. 

“The award is kind of a validation of my work ethic,” she said. “It means your client trusted you enough to nominate you for the recognition. So, I’m really thankful.” 

Building Trust Through Crisis 

That trust was tested during one of the most challenging periods of Mia’s career. Her client’s company was acquired by another firm, and the transition brought uncertainty that rippled through the entire organization.  

“There was actually a lot of confusion and anxiety during the transition,” Mia said. “So I was really nervous.” 

During that uncertain time, Shannen from HireSmart’s VE support team provided reassurance. If the client couldn’t keep Mia, HireSmart would help find another position.  

“That kind of put me at ease,” Mia said. “OK, I’ll just continue. Show up, do my best and see where this will go.” 

The transition ultimately succeeded, and Mia’s relationships held strong. But the crisis revealed something important about why she values working with an agency rather than as an independent contractor. 

“I feel like I have more peace of mind with the agency,” she said. “With a direct client, I might get a good salary, but I can’t sleep every day knowing that this client might ghost me next week or I may not get my salary next month. I’d rather have it with the agency.” 

Working Through Natural Disaster 

If the company transition tested Mia’s professional resilience, a natural disaster tested everything else. A massive earthquake hit her region, followed by a typhoon. The disasters made international news. Internet service went down for nearly a week. 

But Mia kept working. 

“The internet was actually down for almost a week,” she said. “My client was actually asking, why are you still working? We’ve seen, we’ve heard the news.” 

Mia relied on backup systems — wireless prepaid internet, mobile data, and a power bank for her laptop — to stay connected. She kept posting payments to tenant accounts, processing utility invoices, and managing projects across multiple states while power and water were shut off in her area for clearing operations. 

“They can always count on me,” she said. 

Meanwhile, Mia was unable to reach her family, who lives on a different island, eight to nine hours away by bus and ferry.  

“I was able to contact them a day or two after the typhoon,” she said. “Thankfully, everyone was safe.” 

While Mia’s own apartment sat in an elevated area that escaped the worst flooding, the streets next to her neighborhood were hit hard.  

“It was kind of scary as well,” she said. 

The Philosophy of Friendship 

For Mia, building relationships means going beyond the transactional nature of remote work. She doesn’t limit conversations with her client to work topics. 

“I ask them about their daughter, things like that,” she said. “Just really make it friendly, and make them feel like you’re not just a VE, you’re also a friend.” 

Mia’s role has expanded to support both rental and accounting departments, handling projects in several U.S. states.  

The variety also provides unexpected benefits. Mia came to HireSmart with logistics experience but was new to real estate and community association management. 

“It’s learning as I go,” she said. “It’s like I’m getting free training without having to pay for education.” 

The learning curve brings challenges, particularly in accounting work, but Mia views those challenges as opportunities to strengthen client relationships through honesty. 

“If you make mistakes, be very honest,” she said. “Inform your client right away and then learn from it. Make sure not to repeat the same mistakes.” 

Life Beyond Work 

Away from her desk, Mia lives simply with her partner. She spends rest days watching movies, grocery shopping, and cleaning the house. Her partner encourages outings with family. 

The quiet life suits Mia, who values the stability her HireSmart position provides. The health insurance benefit particularly stands out. 

“That’s really a big thing,” she said. 

For other VEs, Mia’s advice centers on the same relationship-building philosophy that earned her the award. 

“Really show up and build a good relationship with your client,” she said. “Make them understand that you can be trusted, that you’re reliable. You will show up every day.” 

“Mia is such a team player,” the client said. “She helps with every aspect of accounting and does it with a smile.” 

That smile, maintained through company transitions and natural disasters, through busy first-of-the-month crunches and collections calls, reflects Mia’s core belief about remote work: relationships matter. 

“I really value my job because it supports me, my personal goals, the goals of my family, my siblings, my partner,” said Mia. “This award will keep me motivated in the next months or years to come, to continue to show up, just do your job.” 

HireSmart works diligently to match U.S. clients with virtual employees like Mia who understand the value of great working relationships. Our VEs receive free health and dental benefits at no cost to clients, and are specifically matched to suit each client’s needs. 

If you’re interested in finding an employee like Mia for your team, click here to schedule a free consultation at your convenience. 

If this environment of personal development and genuine support sounds like the right place for you, click here to apply to HireSmart Virtual Employees.